U.S. SHIPS “BLACK”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29193, 2 May 1960, Page 11

U.S. SHIPS “BLACK”

Arabs Begin Boycott

(Rec. 10 p.m.) CAIRO, May 1. Arab port workers began boycotting American ships at midnight in retaliation for the picketing by New York dockers of the United Arab Republic ship Cleopatra. The secretary-general of the International Federation of Arab Workers, Mr Asad Ragah, said last night the American ships would not be loaded, unloaded, repaired or supplied with water, food or fuel in any Arab port. The first American ship likely to be affected by the new Arab boycott is due in Beirut on Sunday morning with 350 tons of general cargo, including cars, tractors and refrigerators. About 230,000 Arab dock workers from the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf will join the boycott of American ships. About 14,000 Alexandria dockers are expected to start the boycott. Launches fitted with loudspeakers will rove the harbour, calling for its observance.

English posters will be displayed reading: “No water—no fcod—no fuel—no loading—no unloading.” Arab workers in the Suez Canal have been excepted so that American ships can still pass through it. The last United States ship to arrive in Alexandria before the boycott starts—the Sir John Franklin—unloaded and loaded outside the harbour today and prepared to leave before the boycott starts.

The reason for the boycott, the picketing of Egyptian ships in North American ports, continued today.

U.K. Envoy To Moscow LONDON, April 30 The British permanent representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Sir Frank Roberts) has been appointed British Ambassador in Moscow. He succeeds Sir Patrick Reilly, who will return to the Foreign Office as a deputy under-secretary. Sir Frank Roberts is a former ambassador in Belgrade and has previously served in Moscow and New Delhi.